WMU closes admissions for fall 1999 freshman class

May 11, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- With a record number of student applications already
processed for the fall of 1999, Western Michigan University will
close admission to its freshman class for the first time in the
University's history.

University officials have decided to stop accepting admissions
applications following a fifth consecutive recruiting season characterized
by skyrocketing numbers of students seeking admission to WMU as
beginning freshmen. More than 15,000 students have applied for
admission to this year's class. Freshman enrollment in the fall
is expected to substantially exceed last year's record beginning
freshman class of 3,758.

"Our University's popularity among students and their
parents is on the rise, in part because of the recognition that
we offer a superb undergraduate experience at a competitive price,"
says WMU President Elson S. Floyd. "This year, WMU's popularity
has reached such heights, we're at the point where we need to
close admissions to maintain the quality and service level our
students expect and deserve."

The move to close freshman admissions primarily affects graduating
high school seniors heading for college this fall and does not
affect admission prospects for transfer students or graduate students,
says John Fraire, dean of admissions. He notes certain exceptions
to the closed status will be made for students applying as freshmen
to such programs as the Lee Honors College. Those exceptions will
be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Admissions staff also will
continue to process applications that already have been received
or those that are currently in the postal system.

Freshman applications and admissions for this year are running
more than 20 percent above last year's numbers at this time, Fraire
says, and deposits made by admitted students have surpassed the
20 percent mark -- even after passing the May 1 deadline for refund
requests. Further evidence of the approaching record class size
is the fact that students have reserved spots at summer orientation
sessions earlier than usual and the first six orientation sessions
are totally booked. That series of 12 sessions will begin on June
7.

"We've known all year that we were going to have record
numbers," Fraire notes. "And not only are our numbers
up, the quality of student we're attracting is higher than ever.
Our Medallion Scholarship competition is continuing to attract
increasing numbers of top students from around the country, despite
the fact the requirements to participate in that competition were
raised two years ago."

Fraire says all of Michigan's public universities are benefiting
this year from a good economy, students' increased tendency to
begin their studies at a four-year institution and the fact that
the number of 18-year-olds in the population is increasing. But
WMU is reaping the rewards of those factors at a higher rate than
any other school.

"It's shaping up to be a good year for a number of universities,
but for WMU it's going to be a great year," Fraire says.

Fraire says WMU staff members are already working to insure
that students who already have been admitted will be accommodated
in residence halls and with appropriate expansion of sections
in freshman-level courses.

"By closing admissions now, we can accommodate every student
already admitted," Fraire says. "Students and their
parents can feel confident that we'll be ready for them this fall."